China hits JACKPOT as Xi Jinping makes Myanmar a hub for me in mining of…, India, US, UK may soon become…

According to Chinese customs data, China increased its rare mineral imports from Myanmar by 70 percent in the first half of 2023. 

New Delhi: China is reportedly stockpiling rare minerals from Myanmar, which will soon position the country as a major supplier of these minerals. According to Chinese customs data, China increased its rare mineral imports from Myanmar by 70 percent in the first half of 2023. This strategy could enable China to control the supply chain of rare minerals in the future.

The mining companies in China are spreading their operations in Myanmar’s Kachin region, an area rich in rare minerals. Mining activities are particularly concentrated around the towns of Panwa and Chipwe, near the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan.

According to the US Geological Survey, Myanmar accounted for 11 percent of the world’s total rare mineral production in 2023, compared to China’s 68 percent and the US’s 12 percent. Rare minerals like dysprosium and terbium, used in electric vehicles, are predominantly found in Myanmar and China. However, Myanmar lacks the capacity to refine these minerals.

China Importing Mineral:

The Xi Jinping government is importing raw rare minerals from Myanmar and refining them domestically, gaining control over the supply of these critical resources. With the rising global demand for rare minerals in electric vehicles, electronics, and the defense industry, this strategy positions China strongly in the international market.

China’s disastrous actions

According to a report by Myanmar’s leading media outlet, The Irrawaddy, “Myanmar’s transformation into a warehouse for China’s rare minerals has been rapid and destructive. The Kachin region, once renowned for its dense forests and rich biodiversity, now resembles a barren, moon-like landscape filled with mining pits.” This mining is causing severe environmental damage and negatively impacting the lives of local communities.